Women of Song: The Inaugural Event

Details

Written by Ellen Martin

Published: 20 September 2011

ASBURY PARK, NJ - Rosie’s Café and Musicians on a Mission present The Inaugural Event of Women of Song, a coalition and celebration of female singers, songwriters, artists and poets dedicated to raising awareness of women’s issues.

This project was conceived when Maxine Snow and Helen-Chantal Pike realized there was a need to recognize the female talent developing in the Jersey shore area. Ms Snow had been inspired while attending the last of Sarah McLaughlin's Lilith Fair, and they both felt it was important to not only showcase the talent of women in the Jersey shore area, but to also provide inspiration and hope to women who have experienced trauma in their lives. And so, along with the assistance of Brenda Wirth of Rosie’s Café; and Jenny Woods and Cathy Noblick of ‘Musicians on a Mission,’ Women of Song was born.

All proceeds from the event will benefit “180, Turning Lives Around,” a private, non-profit organization dedicated to ending domestic and sexual violence in our community. For over 35 years, “180” has been providing immediate and long term support to clients dealing with these traumas.

Ms Snow has been involved in the Jersey Shore musical community for approximately 15 years, and more recently has become involved in the communities of her two other life-long passions; Writing & Art. Thus, the project expanded to include all the arts of our area: Music, Poetry, & Art. “Each of these is a song in our hearts,” says Ms Snow.

Featured musicians are Carol Barbieri, Emily Grove, Kelley Dewkett, Jenny Woods, April Kelly, Melissa Chill, Xenia Sky, Jo Wymer and Maxine Snow. Featured Poets are Helen-Chantal Pike, MaryCae Vignolini, Maxine Snow, Jessica Smith, Bernice Sosa-Izquierdo and Nicole Homer. Featured artists are ellen martin, Katherine Stuart and Maxine Snow. The women chosen to perform at the inaugural event are women whom Ms Snow would consider 'Master Teachers.' “Each one of these women has influenced and taught me in ways that surpass any college course,” says Ms Snow. She continues, “The lives they live as well as the adversities they have met and conquered to keep their dreams alive, have inspired me to pursue an existence I only fantasized about as a child. I am blessed to know these women. The hope for Women of Song is that if there is a woman out there in the audience that felt the way I did 15 years ago; completely alone, scared, desperate, and weak, that she may come to know, see, hear, and feel through the talent of these women and the struggle that they themselves have come from...that no, she is not alone.”

The event will take place on Sunday, October 9th, 2011 from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Rosie’s Café at Atonement Lutheran Church located at 308 First Avenue in Asbury Park. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door. Everyone is cordially invited. Light refreshments will be served. Please visit www.musiciansonamission.org to purchase tickets.

Ms Snow also expressed her gratitude to each member of the entire Women Of Song team, and to Rosie's Cafe, Musicians On A Mission, and ArtsCAP for their support! She is looking forward to the team’s growth.